Gastonia police probe theft of snakes

Police are looking for the man who stole several dozen snakes from a Gastonia business early Sunday.

The snakes were taken about 3 a.m. from Reptile Passions. The thief broke through a glass door and completed the theft in less than 20 minutes, police said.

Surveillance video showed a masked man pulling a number of snakes from their containers and placing them in a large white sack. Store owner Jonathan McMillan estimated three dozen snakes were taken, including a reticulated python that is worth about $12,000. A number of other boas and pythons were taken, police said. Steve Lyttle